Sunday, December 28, 2008
Packers to have 9th Pick in 2009 NFL Draft
As the only 6-10 team in the league, the Packers have no tie-breaker situations to worry about. They will have the 9th pick in next year's draft. Some possible names available in that spot are Florida State DE Everette Brown, Virginia OT Eugene Monroe, USC ILB Rey Maualuga, and Texas DE Brian Orakpu.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Tough Projections for UWM's Record
Ken Pomeroy projects UWM going 11-18 this season with a 7-11 conference record. If the projection played out, UWM would be sitting at home during the postseason.
UW's Men's Basketball Projected Record
Ken Pomeroy projects UW's record to be 17-13 after going 7-11 in Big Ten play. If the projections play out, UW would likely be headed to the NIT this year. However, given Wisconsin's success in Big Ten play, it's hard to believe they'll go 7-11 this year.
Marquette's Projected Record
Ken Pomeroy predicts a Marquette record of 18-13 with a conference record of 7-11. If Pomeroy is right, James, McNeal, and Matthews would likely be making their exit in the NIT.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Predictions for Saturday's MU-UW Game
Just as I wouldn't bet on Bo Ryan and the Badgers in the NCAA tournament against a higher seeded team until he proves he can beat one, I won't bet on Buzz Williams and the Golden Eagles until the first year Marquette coach proves he can win a marquee game. The following predictions are more detailed predictions about the game:
-UW will win 67-58.
-MU's loss will be attributable to Lazar Hayward picking up early fouls, exposing MU's lack of interior depth with Fulce and Otule sidelined by injuries.
-Keaton Nankivil will be the biggest positive surprise for the Badgers.
-MU's Wes Matthews will score 20 points against his hometown team.
-UW's Marcus Landry will score 18 points and grab 8 boards in his hometown against his hometown team, which will earn him Player of the Game honors.
-MU won't value possessions enough and won't dig in deep enough defensively against the probability-oriented Badgers.
-The game will have the least fans at the Bradley Center for an MU-UW game since the first MU-UW game of the Tom Crean era.
-"The Ron Burgandy of Milwaukee" will jump around to the delight of Golden Eagles fans while Badger fans will question if MU has the right to play their song... somewhere, Kris Kross won't know that "Jump Around" ever transferred ownership.
-Badger fans will chant something about educational quality, bosses, and McDonalds.
-Golden Eagles fans will chant something about the U.S.S.R. and Stalin.
-UW will win 67-58.
-MU's loss will be attributable to Lazar Hayward picking up early fouls, exposing MU's lack of interior depth with Fulce and Otule sidelined by injuries.
-Keaton Nankivil will be the biggest positive surprise for the Badgers.
-MU's Wes Matthews will score 20 points against his hometown team.
-UW's Marcus Landry will score 18 points and grab 8 boards in his hometown against his hometown team, which will earn him Player of the Game honors.
-MU won't value possessions enough and won't dig in deep enough defensively against the probability-oriented Badgers.
-The game will have the least fans at the Bradley Center for an MU-UW game since the first MU-UW game of the Tom Crean era.
-"The Ron Burgandy of Milwaukee" will jump around to the delight of Golden Eagles fans while Badger fans will question if MU has the right to play their song... somewhere, Kris Kross won't know that "Jump Around" ever transferred ownership.
-Badger fans will chant something about educational quality, bosses, and McDonalds.
-Golden Eagles fans will chant something about the U.S.S.R. and Stalin.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Big Ten Comes Closest to Measuring Up Since 2005
The Big Ten came the closest it has since 2005 in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. North Carolina's victory over Michigan St. sealed the deal for the ACC, which won for the tenth time in as many tries. Although Wisconsin, Ohio St., Minnesota, Penn State and Northwestern held up their end of the bargain against Virginia Tech, Miami, Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Florida State, respectively, the Big Ten could not overcome losses by Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan, and Michigan St., against Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Wake Forest, Maryland, and North Carolina, respectively.
Going into play Wednesday, the ACC ranked first in conference RPI, while the Big Ten took the third spot, behind the Big East.
Going into play Wednesday, the ACC ranked first in conference RPI, while the Big Ten took the third spot, behind the Big East.
UW @ MU Matchup Breakdown
Saturday's game should be a closely contested game between two programs in transition. MU transitions from Tom Crean to Buzz Williams and is yet to win its first marquee game of the season. UW transitions from leadership in Brian Butch and Michael Flowers to team leaders in Marcus Landry and Trevon Hughes, and also lacks a marquee win thusfar this season. To see which team will get its first marquee win of the season, we're going to break it down.
Point Guard:
Dominic James vs. Trevon Hughes
This is one of the matchups of players who were both top 100 recruits coming out of high school. The slight edge goes to Marquette's Dominic James. Hughes is the more efficient scorer with 1.59 points per shot, compared to James' 1.3 points per shot. However, James has developed into more of a pure point guard with 5.6 assists per game and a 3.5/1 assist-to-turnover ratio compared to Hughes' 2.1 assists per game and a 1.5/1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Shooting Guard:
Jerel McNeal vs. Jason Bohannon
This is another matchup of former top 100 players coming out of high school. The strong edge goes to Marquette's Jerel McNeal. Bohannon has not lived up to expectations this season. He has only had 1.13 points per shot and a 1.1 assist-to-turnover ratio. McNeal has also struggled this season with 1.21 points per shot and a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. However, McNeal has been the heart and soul of the Marquette team the last couple years. He is one of the best defenders in college basketball and when he is on, the Marquette team is on.
Small Forward:
Wesley Matthews vs. Joe Krabbenhoft
This matchup completes the trio of perimeter matchups of players who were top 100 players coming out of high school. The moderate edge goes to Marquette's Wes Matthews, Jr., son of former UW standout Wes Matthews, Sr. Matthews has been incredibly efficient this season scoring 1.88 points per shot. Krabbenhoft has proven to be an important glue guy, leading the team in rebounding with 5.9 per game and having a 2/1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Power Forward:
Lazar Hayward vs. Marcus Landry
Landry is another former top 100 recruit coming out of high school. Landry's final two schools were Marquette and UW, and the Golden Eagles wish he would have decided differently. However, this is an even matchup. Lazar Hayward is probably the most important Golden Eagle this year. His 16.7 points per game on 1.44 points per shot only begin to tell the story of his importance. He leads the team in rebounding with 9.7 per game. He is also vital to the Golden Eagles because of the team's lack of interior depth. When Chris Otule and Joe Fulce got injured in the preseason, Marquette was left with much maligned Dwight Burke and infrequently used Pat Hazel as other options in the front court. Until Otule and Fulce return, Hayward staying healthy and out of foul trouble is of critical importance to the Golden Eagles. Landry, the former Vincent standout, fills up the stat sheet for the Badgers. He is efficient with 1.41 points per shot and he contributes an important 4.1 rebounds per game and 2.4 blocks per game.
Center:
Dwight Burke vs. Keaton Nankivil
Nankivil is another former top 100 recruit coming out of high school. Like Landry, he had MU in his last few schools, but opted for the Badgers instead. Although neither player has performed well this season, Nankivil's potential is a lot better than Burke's. Therefore, the strong edge goes to UW's Nankivil.
Bench:
UW has an extremely strong edge with its bench. Forward Tim Jarmucz and former top 100 recruit Jon Leuer are very strong players off the bench for UW. The Golden Eagles have considerably weaker options in point guard Maurice Acker, shooting guard David Cubillan, and forward Pat Hazel.
Coaching:
Buzz Williams vs. Bo Ryan
The strong edge goes to UW's Bo Ryan. Ryan has decades of head coaching experience as opposed to Williams' 1+ years of head coaching experience. Ryan has developed and if comfortable with his coaching philosophy whereas Williams is developing his coaching philosophy. In a close game, the coaching could be a major factor.
Home Court Advantage:
The slight edge goes to Marquette. Marquette's home court advantage is mitigated by the presence of Badger fans. As the moderately sized private institution, Marquette struggles to sellout its 18,000 seat arena to Golden Eagles fans. The Badgers, with an alumni base five times as large and the advantage of being the public institution, happily buy the tickets Marquette cannot sell to Golden Eagles fans. However, the edge still clearly goes to the Golden Eagles because the Golden Eagles are more familiar with the arena, such as the shooting background.
Point Guard:
Dominic James vs. Trevon Hughes
This is one of the matchups of players who were both top 100 recruits coming out of high school. The slight edge goes to Marquette's Dominic James. Hughes is the more efficient scorer with 1.59 points per shot, compared to James' 1.3 points per shot. However, James has developed into more of a pure point guard with 5.6 assists per game and a 3.5/1 assist-to-turnover ratio compared to Hughes' 2.1 assists per game and a 1.5/1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Shooting Guard:
Jerel McNeal vs. Jason Bohannon
This is another matchup of former top 100 players coming out of high school. The strong edge goes to Marquette's Jerel McNeal. Bohannon has not lived up to expectations this season. He has only had 1.13 points per shot and a 1.1 assist-to-turnover ratio. McNeal has also struggled this season with 1.21 points per shot and a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. However, McNeal has been the heart and soul of the Marquette team the last couple years. He is one of the best defenders in college basketball and when he is on, the Marquette team is on.
Small Forward:
Wesley Matthews vs. Joe Krabbenhoft
This matchup completes the trio of perimeter matchups of players who were top 100 players coming out of high school. The moderate edge goes to Marquette's Wes Matthews, Jr., son of former UW standout Wes Matthews, Sr. Matthews has been incredibly efficient this season scoring 1.88 points per shot. Krabbenhoft has proven to be an important glue guy, leading the team in rebounding with 5.9 per game and having a 2/1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Power Forward:
Lazar Hayward vs. Marcus Landry
Landry is another former top 100 recruit coming out of high school. Landry's final two schools were Marquette and UW, and the Golden Eagles wish he would have decided differently. However, this is an even matchup. Lazar Hayward is probably the most important Golden Eagle this year. His 16.7 points per game on 1.44 points per shot only begin to tell the story of his importance. He leads the team in rebounding with 9.7 per game. He is also vital to the Golden Eagles because of the team's lack of interior depth. When Chris Otule and Joe Fulce got injured in the preseason, Marquette was left with much maligned Dwight Burke and infrequently used Pat Hazel as other options in the front court. Until Otule and Fulce return, Hayward staying healthy and out of foul trouble is of critical importance to the Golden Eagles. Landry, the former Vincent standout, fills up the stat sheet for the Badgers. He is efficient with 1.41 points per shot and he contributes an important 4.1 rebounds per game and 2.4 blocks per game.
Center:
Dwight Burke vs. Keaton Nankivil
Nankivil is another former top 100 recruit coming out of high school. Like Landry, he had MU in his last few schools, but opted for the Badgers instead. Although neither player has performed well this season, Nankivil's potential is a lot better than Burke's. Therefore, the strong edge goes to UW's Nankivil.
Bench:
UW has an extremely strong edge with its bench. Forward Tim Jarmucz and former top 100 recruit Jon Leuer are very strong players off the bench for UW. The Golden Eagles have considerably weaker options in point guard Maurice Acker, shooting guard David Cubillan, and forward Pat Hazel.
Coaching:
Buzz Williams vs. Bo Ryan
The strong edge goes to UW's Bo Ryan. Ryan has decades of head coaching experience as opposed to Williams' 1+ years of head coaching experience. Ryan has developed and if comfortable with his coaching philosophy whereas Williams is developing his coaching philosophy. In a close game, the coaching could be a major factor.
Home Court Advantage:
The slight edge goes to Marquette. Marquette's home court advantage is mitigated by the presence of Badger fans. As the moderately sized private institution, Marquette struggles to sellout its 18,000 seat arena to Golden Eagles fans. The Badgers, with an alumni base five times as large and the advantage of being the public institution, happily buy the tickets Marquette cannot sell to Golden Eagles fans. However, the edge still clearly goes to the Golden Eagles because the Golden Eagles are more familiar with the arena, such as the shooting background.
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